 |
| View of my back yard with a cleared space for the dog. Less snow than in Boston for once!!! 😂 |
To Do: Please review the draft coaching/visit calendar and let me know by the end of this week of any conflicts. Link to calendar is here.
I must have jinxed us by saying that I dread snow days. With 10" in Boston, it was a good call! Today, I participated in two virtual meetings on Google Hangout videoconferencing. It doesn't replace face-to-face meetings, but it does allow for seeing each other and sharing documents. I also finally drafted a coaching/visit calendar through the first week in June. I am hoping that even with MCAS administration in April and May that principals (you) and I can still meet/visit non-testing classrooms.
Have a great week!
Please see:
New accommodations for English learners participating in next-generation tests: This year, English learners will have access to several English learner accommodations that were not previously available. Pages 27–29 of the Accessibility and Accommodations Manual contain a list of these accommodations and their descriptions.
Here are also tools other districts used to prepare for MCAS for those of you who need templates and how-to's.
Congratulations, Principal Michele Davis!
Last week, our principal colleague Michele Davis was honored at City Council's Black History Month event on February 27, 2019.
"Councilor Edwards honor[ed] Principal of the Warren Prescott K-8 school and said, “As we celebrate the achievements of black women and push for equity in Boston Public Schools, I’m pleased to honor Principal Michele Davis. Her decades of service with BPS and leadership of the Warren Prescott School provide an exemplary model for students and staff in our educational system and for community members across the city.”See article in the Patriot Bridge.
MCAS Resources, con't
Please see:
New accommodations for English learners participating in next-generation tests: This year, English learners will have access to several English learner accommodations that were not previously available. Pages 27–29 of the Accessibility and Accommodations Manual contain a list of these accommodations and their descriptions.
Here are also tools other districts used to prepare for MCAS for those of you who need templates and how-to's.
To Do: If you have not already done so, please share your MCAS schedule with me.
Instructional Ramp Up: Preparation with Students
| |
ASAP
|
Integrate use of approved graphic organizers and math reference sheets for students with special needs in grades 3-8
Familiarize Students with Math Reference Sheets and Calculator policy
|
ASAP
|
Online Training Modules for test administrators
Training sessions offered by DESE (web based - must sign up)
|
ASAP
|
Administer online Tutorial for grades 3-8 (gives teacher and student an idea of the test-taking skills needed to take online test)
|
ASAP
|
Spend time at the beginning or end of class to review sections of the online tutorial with class - have pairs work together on their chromebooks to practice
|
ASAP
|
Administer Grades 3-8 ELA Practice Tests online
Administer sections of Grades 3-8 ELA Practice Tests paper test for homework (to practice LANGUAGE of test taking)
(Gr. 5 and 8 Science teachers should also mirror this process)
Perkins Mock MCAS Materials. Please copy and edit for your own school community.
|
Now-March 26
|
Assign comprehension/writing tasks in literacy/reading block that uses MCAS-like language to increase familiarity with language of test-taking; if possible, assign written tasks on Google Docs.
|
Week of March 19
|
Re-administer online test taking tutorial
Assign Mathematics Paper Test for homework and review
Focus on test taking, thinking, and language vs. right answer
|
Week of March 26
|
Re-administer online practice test
Integrate language of mathematics test question types into instruction, assignments and assessments
|
April 2-May 4
|
ELA Test Window
|
April 4-May 25
|
Mathematics and STE Test Window
(Suggest giving students month of April to allow for more instructional time in mathematics and science/technology and engineering. Administer test between May 5-25 if possible.)
|
Grades 3 - 8:
Approved Graphic Organizers/Resources
The DESE approved graphic organizers, checklists, and supplemental reference sheets listed in the table below are for use by students with disabilities in grades 3–8 who have this MCAS accommodation (A9 from the Accessibility and Accommodations Manual for the Spring 2018 MCAS Grades 3–8 Tests) listed in their IEPs or 504 plans. Schools are encouraged to familiarize students with these tools, since students should be comfortable using their graphic organizer or reference sheet during MCAS testing.
Approved ELA
Graphic Organizers
|
Approved Supplemental Mathematics
Reference Sheets
|
Sample STE
Reference Sheets
|
No comments:
Post a Comment